Reenforced flooring and method



REENFORCED FLOORING AND METHOD Filed April 15, 1931 S H .x Ev /E 2 j 114% 5x14? .Zizveniar.

' Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES 1,988,201; REENFORCED FLOORING AND METHOD Julius It. Hall, Oak Park, 111.

, Application April15, 1931, Serial No. 530,345

Claims.

This invention relates particularly to reen-' forced flooring and .a method of laying the same. The primary object is to provide a construction which will enable wooden; flooring strips, or their 5 equivalent, to be suitably reenforced and to be ample temporary buildings for exposition purposes.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which-- Fig. 1 is a broken elevatio-nal perspective view (partly in section) illustrating a preferred embodiment; Fig. 2, a fragmentary end elevational view of a modification, illustrating the manner in which the armor-strips are interlocked; Fig. 3, an

end elevational view of a slight modification of I the construction shown in Fig. 2, in which a heat and sound insulating material is introduced between the flooring-strip proper and the armorstrip; Fig. 4, a broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 5, showing one method by which the armor-strip may be applied to a metal joist; Fig. 5, a broken section taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a broken longitudinal sectional view of an armor-strip of slightly modified form, adapted to be applied to steel joists;

and Fig. 7, a broken sectional 'elevational view, showing the manner in which the armor-strips bridge the spaces between joists.

In the construction shown in Fig. l, A designates a joist which may be of any suitable form and material; B, B, designate armored flooringstrips supported on the joist.

Each armored flooring-strip is shown as com-' prising an armor-strip 1 and a flooring-strip 2, preferably of wood, but which may be an artificial board of strong fibrous character.

The armor-strip 1 preferably is formed from rather strong sheet-metal, which is suitably stifi, but which is moderately resilient. The sheetmetal strip is suitably formed to provide a bottom wall 1 a projecting hollow flange 1 and an upwardly extending flange l at one edge of the bottom wall; and to providafurther, at the other edge of the bottom wall, an upturned flange 1 supporting an outwardly extending horizontal wall 1 from which projects upwardly a vertical Each flooring-strip 2 is shown of the usual form I 5 of a flooring-strip'having at one edge a groove 2 and at the opposite edge a tongue 2*. As thus described, the strip 2 has, below thegroove 2 a flange 2, which fits within the hollow metal flange l and the strip 2, has also, below the tongue 2 ,a corner groove, or cutaway portion 2 It will be seen that the corner-flange 2 of the wooden strip projects into the hollow-metal flange 1 while the portions 1 lan'd '1 of the armor, or sheathing-strip conforms to the corner; notch 2 and the edge-surface of the flange 2 In laying the flooring,*according to the preferred method, an armor-stripl is secured to'the joists or other foundation, as by means of nails 3; and a flooring-strip 2 is'then inserted in the armor-strip, the metal being sufficientlyresilient to permit the introduction; a second armor-strip 1 is then brought into proper interlocking relation, as shown in Fig. l, and is secured to the joists, after which a second flooring-strip 2 is intro duced. This method is continued in the laying of the flooring. T

Each flooring-strip 2 is shown provided at its lower surface with a longitudinal groove '2 which provides space for the heads of nails, or. other securing members, as desired.

In the modification shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the flooring is shown as comprising armor-strips 4 and flooring-strips 5 The bottom walls .of the armor strips are provided with perforations 6,. if I desired; or, thefperforations*maybeformed by driving nails through the bottom walls in the operation of securing the armor-strips to the joists. I i The flooring-strip 5 is provided at each edge with a longitudinal groove 5 Thearmor-strip 4 is shown as comprising a bottom wall 4 having one edge equipped with an upturned flange 4 which carries a hollow key 4. adapted to fit into the grooves'iof adjacent fiooring-strips 5. I

At the other edge of the bottom wall 4. is an upturned flange 4 which carries a flange"4'=.-

The flange 4 is adaptedto be entered in the 50 and a layer of heat-insulating andsound-proof -5 material 7 is interposed between the armor-strip and the flooring-strip.

In Fig. 3, the armor-strip is designated 8, and

the flooring-strip is designated 9.

The filler 7 may be of any suitable fibrous materialadapted to deaden sound.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, 10 designates a steel-joist; 11, an armor-strip; and 12, a flooring-strip, which is provided at, its lower side with a central longitudinal groove 12 The armor-strip ll is'shown as of the same form as that applied in the structure shown in Fig. 2. It

has its bottom provided, however, with slot-like perforations 11*. A metal-strap 13 is employed to secure the armor-strip tothehead portion lll of the metal beam. The end portions of the strap are passed through the perforations" and clinched below the flanges of the head',fas indicated at 13 In the modification shown in Fig. 6, 14 designates an armor-strip having a bottom Wall'14 providedwith integral downwardly struck memhere. 14 which may be clinched upon the flanges of an I-beam, thus rendering unnecessary the use of the'separate securing strap shown in Fig. 5.

v The invention enables wooden flooring-strips to be removably secured to a foundation. The

armor "provides a degree of protection against 7 fire; and when the improved flooring is used in connection with metal I-beams, the flooring is rendered fireproof in a considerable measure.

Furthermore, the armor for the base-portion.

' of the i'looring-strip serves to very substantially strengthen the flooring-strip, thus enabling finisle-flooring to be applied directly to the joism,

' thus rendering unnecessary the use of a coarse board flooring beneath the finish-flooring.

If desired. a solution-of-a suitable mastic or some other suitable binder such as an'artificial resin, may be applied at the joints in the laying joints so thatthe floor will beproof against leakage, if submerged with water.

While' theflooring-strips 2 preferably are of 7 ordinarylumber, artificial lumber may be sub- "suitable hardness and a high degree of strength of the flooring. 'Thematerial may have a suitable body toprovide a satisfactory locking of the stituted, or a suitable composition possessing against -flexure may be employed.

It may be noted that the improved construction enables flooring-strips of any lengthwhioh may be at hand to be introducedinto the armor strips. That is, it is not necessary thatthelength of the "flooring-strip shall be the same as the length ofthe armor-strip, but the flooring strip may be built up from a'numbe'r of short lengths, thus enabling odds and ends tobe utilized without serious detriment to the flooring.

construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the-prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by "Letters Patent, is:

1 A flooring comprising: a plurality of armorstrips having interlock-members in interlocking engagement with adjacent armor-strips, said armor-strips being adapted to encase the base portion of a flooring-strip; and separately formed flooring-strips carried .by the armorestrips and having corresponding interlock-members engaging said first-mentioned interlock-members.

2. A flooring comprising: joists; armor-strips bridging the joists and covering the spaces there-;-.

between, said armor-strips being provided with interlock-members in interlocking engagement with adjacent armor-strips; and flooring-strips mounted in said armor-strips having correspondmembers of said armor-strips. 3. A reenforced flooring-strip comprising: a

fibrous flooring-strip having at its edges interlock-members; and abase-encasing armor-strip receiving the baseportion of the flooring-strip, and having flanges equipped with interlock-members engaging said first-mentioned interlockmembers, adapted to interlock with the interlock members of a like armor-strip.

4. A flooring comprising: joists; armor-strips;

bridging the joists and covering the spaces therebetween, said armor-strips being provided with interlock-members; sound-proofing material in the base portion'of said armor-strips; and flooring-strips-mounted in said armor-strips having corresponding interlock-members engaging the interlock-members of said armor strips.

5. A flooring device comprising an armor-strip ing interlock-members engaging the interlock-s having a base walland having its edges equipped.

with interlock-members, said armor-stripbeing.

adapted to encase the base-portion of afiooringstrip having corresponding interlock-members,

and adapted to interlockwith the interlock members of a like armor-strip.

; JULIUS R. SHALL. 

